Deuteronomy 11:10-12a
For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for:
Israel had no idea what life in the promised land would be like. They knew it would be nothing like the life they had known in Egypt and certainly not like the life they were living in the wilderness. Throughout their journey we find God giving them some glimpses of what he had prepared for them. In Chapter 8:7-9 they are told: "For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass."
It doesn't take much imagination to see ourselves in the same position as the Israelites, Lost in Egypt but God delivered us from sin and Satan like he delivered Israel from the bondage of Pharoh. Then we begin a long, twisting journey, and often we wonder where he is taking us, like Israel being brought through the wilderness. At times on this journey, we get glimpses, desires of the heart, and insights from God, that he is taking us somewhere. We don't know all the details but little by little he lets us know that whatever he does, and wherever he takes us must be wonderful, "Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things." Our verses today are one of these insights along the long and winding journey on the way to God's perfect will.
God's will [the promised land] is not dependent upon man's industry or strength. In Egypt their gardens relied upon their strength, if it didn't rain, and for months at a time it wouldn't, then they could make their gardens grow by their strength and industry. The land where they were going would only work and would only be prosperous if God continued to send the rains, but if the rains stopped it would cease to be a place of abundance. God did not discourage their work and industry they would still have to plow and sow and weed and harvest but all of their preparations were waiting on His sending of the rains or else all their work would be in vain.
Dear Christian, God's will is not dependent upon your strength and energy but God's. Sure you will have to sweat and dig and sow and harvest, but all of our work is of no use without the blessing of our God. Perhaps he places you in the mission field, or in a Pastorate, or some other area of service, all your planning and industry will be of no avail without the rain and the wind of God. So Christian on your journey, here is an insight for you when you get where he is taking you, The whole operation is dependant upon him and his power and his ability. It is a land that He careth for, That his eyes are ever on! All of the abilities of your previous life will be useless without his touch, leave the methods and schemes of Egypt there and look now to the God of the Land.
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